PCOS Treatments
PCOS cannot be cured but symptoms can be controlled. Most of the traditional treatments do not attempt to get at the underlying cause of PCOS which is insulin resistance.
Birth control pills are used to regulate periods and reduce the risk of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia. Since women with PCOS usually do not have a menstrual cycle, taking birth control pills will induce a menstrual cycle and shed the lining of the uterus monthly. Shedding the lining will reduce the risk of endometrial diseases.
Certain medicines known as anti-androgens, can stop the effect of the male hormones on the female body. These medicines will reduce the excess hair growth and acne.
There are a variety of treatments for the infertility that is experienced with PCOS. Medications that stimulate ovulation and IVF , in vitro fertilization, are all possible treatments. Before taking fertility medications though, rule out a low sperm count and blocked fallopian tubes first.
There are new treatments now for PCOS that focus on the underlying cause, insulin resistance. These treatments work to lower insulin levels thereby lowering testosterone levels as well. By lowering insulin blood levels all disease risks may be reduced and menstruation cycles may recommence. Risks associated with excess testosterone, and thereby reduced, are excessive hair growth, head hair loss, acne and heart disease. Medications that help with insulin resistance are pioglitazone and rosiglitazone. These are used for diabetes but also have shown effectiveness in treating insulin resistance with PCOS. The drugs are also known as Actos and Avandia. Metformin, known as Glucophage, also lowers insulin but has shown to cause a life threatening condition of lactic acidosis. It is recommended to not go with that medication for reducing insulin resistance.
Do not overlook clinical trials for treating PCOS either. Many new and cutting edge ideas are tested out in clinical trials. For some the trial is conducted by mail and you do not even have to live near the research hospital. A sampling of some current clinical trials are causes for increased risk of diabetes in women with PCOS, family basis for PCOS, the relationship between sleep apnea and PCOS. Clinical trials for PCOS can be found by going to http://clinicaltrials.gov/ and searching for PCOS.
There are alternative therapies that may help with PCOS symptoms that you can try. The first one to try is to lose weight, which for women with PCOS is significantly harder than for women without PCOS. Dietary changes such as eating low carb is necessary to combat the insulin factor. Exercise is also mandatory. Losing weight will reduce the risks of heart disease and diabetes and cause the ovaries to produce less testosterone. A meeting with a dietician or nutritionist may help you to understand how to eat low carb.
Removing excess hair growth can be achieved without medicine by electrolysis or laser hair removal. Electrolysis is a permanent solution as hair follicles are destroyed. Laser hair removal can also be used but some studies have found it to not be as effective as electrolysis.